Introduction
Successful and efficient eCommerce businesses are adept at tracking, fulfilling, and processing orders. It isn’t always easy, especially if you’ve got multiple sales channels, but multichannel management order management systems can help.
As the name suggests, multichannel management order management systems are all about managing the orders you receive. They offer many benefits and help with aligning your inventory, managing shipping routes and schedules, and keeping your customers happy.
In this guide, we’ll help you find the best order management system for your business.
How We Ranked the Best Multichannel Management Order Management Systems
We recommend only the very best multichannel order management systems to our users. So, we first focused on finding the OMS apps with the best general ratings, reading through testimonials and reviews to find out more about them.
Our expert reviewers then examined each app more closely, checking out its features, functions, pros, cons, and other key elements, as well as viewing demo versions of each app to see exactly what it can do. We then used all of this info to assemble our ranking list.
What Are Multichannel Management Order Management Systems?
As we look at the key features and benefits of multichannel management order management systems, you’ll need a foundation to better understand what exactly an order management system, or OMS, is and why they’re so important.
Let’s start off with a definition of multichannel eCommerce. Traditionally, many businesses leveraged only one sales channel. But modern businesses implement different systems to sell their products. This online business strategy expands the focus to multiple sales channels to increase revenue — website, social media, text, etc.
With the rise of multichannel eCommerce, many businesses are facing challenges in managing and tracking different sales channels. That’s where order management systems come into play. These programs — with product information management software and stock management software — help businesses manage orders more efficiently.
Many industries use Order management systems, from the world of tech and telecommunications to retail and eCommerce too. In any business that receives a high volume of orders and needs to maintain firm control over inventory, shipping, and more, an OMS can be a game changer.
In the world of multichannel eCommerce, such apps are relevant. They make it possible for even small businesses with low numbers of staff to create a successful ordering management system. The systems work to eliminate costly errors, delivery delays, and canceled orders, thus reducing the number of unhappy customers.
How Do Multichannel Management Order Management Systems Work
Order management systems track sales, orders, and inventory. And they help teams and entrepreneurs run efficient online stores by fulfilling every order the most optimal way.
But how do these apps actually work? It depends on which OMS you choose. Most order management systems include several key features, like the ability to track inventory levels through product information management systems across each of your channels. Most systems also incorporate automated stock management systems to make relevant updates as new orders arrive.
Many modern OMS programs can automate large parts of the order fulfillment process. When an order comes in from a customer, your OMS will respond by accepting payments from your buyers and sending the relevant order information. They even automatically generate and print shipping labels.
Multichannel management order management systems can also carry out many other functions and help with various other aspects of the order processing part of your business. They can handle order returns and reverse logistics and can store, manage, and update customer info for marketing strategies and accounting.
How Multichannel Management Order Management Systems Can Help You
If you’ve tried running a multichannel eCommerce site, you’ll know how hard it can be sometimes. Many business owners run into problems as they try to keep track of so many channels. It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed or confused by the process.
Multichannel management order management systems can help in a big way. By streamlining the order fulfillment process and automating various tasks, these systems save time, reduce the risk of errors, and help improve general efficiency.
Below, we’ll look at just some of the common issues that multichannel eCommerce businesses face, while also explaining how multichannel management order management systems can solve those problems.
Lack of Control
One of the big issues with running a multichannel eCommerce business is that you might feel like some or all of your sales channels aren’t fully under your control. Using an OMS is a great way to get back on track. Plus, it gives you more time and freedom to review your channels.
Accessing Information
Another issue plaguing multichannel eCommerce businesses is that it’s difficult to view relevant information from multiple channels. OMSs compartmentalize and centralize your key data in one place, letting you view and learn about every channel with ease.
Understanding Performance
In the world of eCommerce, a bird’s-eye view of product performance helps sellers make the best decisions for investment and inventory adaptation. A good OMS should come with reports and analytics features to help track performance.
Tedious Tasks
How much time do businesses waste on tedious and trivial tasks? Too often, workers waste time and energy on processes with the potential for automation. OMSs can automate large parts of order processing to free your workers and improve efficiency.
Unhappy Customers
It’s never pleasant to deal with unhappy customers. And customers will get upset if orders are slow to process or don’t arrive on time. The likelihood increases when you don’t have an efficient order management system in place.
| Problem | How Multichannel Management Order Management Systems Help |
|---|---|
 No control over channels | Lets you clearly see and manage your channels |
| Lack of data | Provides in-depth info on each sales channel |
| Poor analytics | Offers useful analytics and reporting tools |
| Wasted time | Improves efficiency through automation |
| Bad feedback | Keeps customers happy with more efficient order fulfillment |
Multichannel Management Order Management Systems Meaning
The term “multichannel management order management systems” refers to apps and software that focus on speeding up and automating order processing and fulfillment systems for eCommerce brands.
Main Features of Multichannel Management Order Management Systems
Multichannel management order management systems are a crucial tool in helping eCommerce brands grow and prosper. Those that are trying to make use of several sales channels to boost revenue and fuel growth, will benefit even more.
But what kinds of features should you be looking for in a multichannel management order management system? And what are the key functions and capacities of these pieces of software that make them so desirable and necessary?
In the table below, we’ll outline some of the most important features of the best order management systems, explaining what each feature does and why it’s so important for an eCommerce company.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Order Processing | Instead of manually handling each order, you can rely on an OMS to do most of it for you. Automated tasks include updating stock levels, contacting the relevant departments, and even assigning the ideal carrier. |
| Inventory Management | The best order management systems can also manage your business’s inventory. This means that your OMS should be able to update inventory levels as new stock and orders arrive, reducing the risk of mistakes or stock-outs. |
| Analytics | A lot of the best OMS programs also have at least some level of analytics. They’ll be able to track sales performance across different channels, letting you know which products are doing well, which channels are most profitable, and providing you with other important info and insights. |
| Shipping | Many order management systems also have shipping features. They can automatically identify the best shipping route when a customer places an order based on their location. And they also print and prepare shipping labels and plan with the carrier. |
| Automation | Automation is the cornerstone of every multichannel management order management system. These apps can automate large parts of order processing and fulfillment, automatically carrying out various tasks so that you and your team don’t have to. |
Benefits of Using Multichannel Management Order Management Systems
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Process orders more easily |  An OMS will cost money |
| Greater control | Some programs are tricky to use |
| Reduce the risk of errors | |
| Save time and money | |
| Find ways to strengthen your brand |
Many eCommerce brands are already leveraging their own order management systems. And if you look at the benefits, it’s easy to see why. Here are some of the primary advantages for business when using an OMS.
Handle Orders Round-the-Clock
If you run your eCommerce business manually and without the aid of an OMS, you can only really process orders during the times that you or your team are awake, active, and on the system, ready to handle demands as they arrive.
When you use an OMS, however, your store can start taking orders and processing them day or night. This is beneficial for capturing more sales, and it works in different time zones.
Take Charge of Your Business
As stated, many eCommerce business owners can feel like things are spiraling out of their control as they add more sales channels and discover additional aspects to manage and track.
It’s never pleasant to feel you’re not fully in control of your own business. But a multichannel management order management system can change that. With an OMS, you can regain control of your operation, with more time, more freedom, and a clearer view of how the business is working.
Avoid Costly Mistakes
Another issue with not using an OMS is it increases the likelihood of minor mistakes. And in the eCommerce world, even a slight mistake can cause colossal problems, like missed sales or poor feedback.
Multi-channel order management systems are effective at reducing errors within any company. With their powerful automation features and smart technology, these apps can keep stock management and your order fulfillment processes flowing smoothly and seamlessly.
Improve Efficiency and Accuracy
Another benefit of using an OMS is it helps your business increase efficiency. These apps have automation features that handle many tedious, time-consuming tasks for you.
OMS apps can make use of state-of-the-art technology and algorithms to improve. For example, many include management systems that keep inventory numbers up-to-date and help you pick shipping routes for each order.
Identify Key Trends to Improve
As time goes by, you’ll make changes within your business to grow and develop. You may adjust the products you sell, for example, or adjust your product range to increase your appeal to target customers.
It’s impossible to make such big changes and decisions without the data to back them up. Thanks to their analytics and reporting tools, the best OMS programs provide key insights and info to spot trends and act on them.
Who Should Use Multichannel Management Order Management Systems
We’ve seen the benefits of multichannel management order management systems. But which kinds of companies have the best positioning to reap those benefits? Here are some profiles that could use an OMS.
Small Businesses
Small businesses are prime candidates for OMS usage. If you have a small business, you need to make it as efficient as possible and make every second count. You can’t afford to waste time on tedious tasks or make costly errors. An OMS can save you time and make your business far more efficient.
International Sellers
Thanks to the power of the internet and global shopping platforms, it’s easier than ever to sell products all over the world, but processing all of those international orders can be tricky. An OMS can help you by automating order processing and fulfillment for every order, no matter where the customer is located.
Businesses with Multiple Channels
If you have lots of sales channels, you may find that it’s hard to keep all of your inventory data up-to-date, and you might make mistakes that cause problems for you and your customers. Using an OMS is crucial in this situation to get all of your sales channels under control.
Growing Businesses
Your business might start off small, but you may hope to grow and strengthen it. An OMS will give you the tools you need to focus time and energy on that growth, while also helping you to spot trends and patterns that allow you to make data-backed decisions.
What Do Multichannel Management Order Management Systems Cost?
Unfortunately, multichannel management order management systems aren’t free. They might have free trials or demos, but you’ll have to pay to unlock all the features. Here’s how much you can expect to spend on an OMS:
- Entry-level OMS systems with basic features may only cost $10 to $50 per month
- A mid-tier OMS with additional features and functions like automated shipping and fulfillment can cost $100+ a month
- Enterprise-grade OMSs with maximum features and resources cost several hundred dollars per month
Overall, the price you pay will mostly depend on the size of your business; bigger businesses need more features in an OMS and will have to pay a higher price.
Trends in Multichannel Management Order Management Systems
The more you know about your industry, the better prepared you’ll be to adapt and develop. It’s always important to be aware of new and emerging trends in eCommerce if you hope to succeed. Here are some trends connected to the use of order management systems.
- New Ways to Manage Inventory – Surveys of business owners show that managing inventory across multiple sales channels is one of the top three biggest problems to overcome. In response to this issue, more and more businesses are turning to OMS apps to get more control over each sales channel.
- Return Rates – Statistics show that 1 in 5 items ordered online end up being returned. Handling returns can be a hassle, but if you provide a smooth an easy process, that customer might buy from you again, or at least leave positive feedback. OMS software is great at return logistics and can provide super experiences for your buyers.
- The Importance of Personalization – eCommerce personalization is becoming more and more important as time goes by, and modern-day consumers expect a certain level of personalization from the brands they buy from. Using an OMS and product information management tools can free up the time and allow you to provide more personal experiences.
- The Cost of Error – Studies of eCommerce brands revealed that human error causes most fulfillment and inventory problems (over 60%), and the cost of those errors can add up. Using an OMS is a smart and sensible way to reduce the risk of those frustrating mistakes occurring.
- Cart Abandonment because of extra costs – A Baymard Institute study from June of last year revealed that 48% of potential customers abandon their cart because of extra costs tied to shipping, fees, and taxes. While you can’t skirt the government, you can use OMSs to reduce shipping rates and minimize fees tied to inventory.
Which Is the Best Multichannel Management Order Management System?
The best multichannel management OMS could transform your business operations, but which is the right tool to use from our list? Well, since they’re all so different, we can’t say that any single tool is better than all the others. Instead, we recommend you try multiple options and compare the results to find an OMS that suits your brand the best.
How to Choose the Right Multichannel Management Order Management Systems
There are many multichannel management order management systems to choose from, and you’ll want to find the best possible OMS to fit the needs of your business.
So, how do you do this? It’s a good idea to think about the current state of your business and where you want to be in the future. You’ll discover areas in your current business model that need improvement. Perhaps you want to cut down on the error rate or minimize delays.
Once you’ve found some areas for improvement, it’s much easier to choose an order management system with the specific functions and features you need to take your business to the next level.
Summary
Selling products online via multiple sales channels can be a very profitable business model, but multichannel eCommerce also requires lots of hard work, patience, time, and dedication, and it’s not always easy to manage so many channels and keep up with increasing levels of orders.
If that situation sounds familiar to you, an OMS might be just what you need. This is the best possible piece of software for eCommerce brands that want to regain control, become more efficient, and get more sales, without compromising on the quality of their service.